THE AquaSure consortium had been awarded the $3.5 billion contract to build Australia's biggest desalination plant.
Victorian Premier John Brumby said this would secure Victoria’s water supplies and deliver as many as 1700 direct new jobs and help ease tough water restrictions.
Mr Brumby said the Victorian Government selected AquaSure, consisting of Suez Environnement, Degremont, Thiess and Macquarie Capital Group to build the desalination plant, with key features including:
• A guarantee to deliver desalinated water by the end of 2011;
• Value for money for water users;
• Delivery of water to meet Victoria’s high water quality standards;
• Flexibility to supply between and 100 per cent of the plant’s capacity in block increments;
• Proven and secure desalination technology; and
• Security of finance for the project in a constrained global economy.
"I am delighted to announce today that AquaSure will build Australia’s biggest desalination plant near Wonthaggi,” Mr Brumby said.
"This desalination plant will be operational from the end of 2011 and is critical to securing water supplies for Melbourne, Geelong and towns in Western Port and South Gippsland.
"Our Government is committed to Victoria’s Desalination Project because we must deliver a solution that is not rainfall dependent in an era of climate change.
"Together with the Food Bowl Modernisation Project and Sugarloaf Pipeline, our new desalination plant will help ease water restrictions. I expect these projects will see our water storages begin to recover in 2012 and restrictions progressively eased.
"At the same time as securing our water supply, we are securing 1700 direct jobs and as many as 3050 indirect jobs during construction in a tough global economy.”
Mr Brumby said AquaSure had committed to additional features and projects, to ensure Victoria’s desalination plant was not only Australia’s biggest, but Australia’s most advanced, including:
• Secure underground power supply;
• Commitment to renewable energy projects to offset the plant’s energy use;
• Minimising the impact on the local environment, including continued use of Williamson’s Beach and the best possible visual amenity at the plant site; and
• Delivering benefits to the local community, such as a new broadband fibre optic cable and a secure local water supply.
Water Minister Tim Holding, said household water bills were increasing as a result of the water projects, but reiterated the Brumby Labor Government’s commitment that average bills would not more than double by 2012.
"Importantly, Victoria’s Desalination Project is being delivered as a Public Private Partnership which ensures that water remains in public hands and delivers value for money,” Mr Holding said.
